8/14/2019 Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998 (RA 8505)

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REPUBLICACTNO.8505

AN ACT PROVIDING ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION FOR RAPE VICTIMS,

ESTABLISHINGFOR THEPURPOSEARAPECRISIS CENTER IN EVERYPROVINCE

ANDCITY,AUTHORIZINGTHEAPPROPRIATIONOFFUNDSTHEREFOR,ANDFOROTHERPURPOSES.

Section 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Rape Victim Assistance andProtectionActof1998."

Sec. 2. Declaration of policy.— It is hereby declared the policy of the State to

providenecessaryassistanceandprotectionforrapevictims.Towardsthisend,the

government shall coordinate its various agencies and non‐government

organizationstoworkhandinhandfortheestablishmentandoperationofarape

crisiscenterineveryprovinceandcitythatshallassistandprotectrapevictimsin

thelitigationoftheircasesandtheirrecovery.

Sec.3.RapeCrisisCenter.—TheDepartmentofSocialWelfareandDevelopment(DSWD),theDepartmentofHealth(DOH),theDepartmentoftheInteriorandLocal

Government (DILG), theDepartment of Justice (DOJ), anda leadnon‐governmentorganization (NGO) with proven track record or experience in handling sexual

abusecases,shallestablishineveryprovinceandcityarapecrisiscenterlocatedin

agovernmenthospitalorhealthclinicorinanyothersuitableplaceforthepurpose

of:

(a) Providing rape victims with psychological counselling, medical and healthservices,includingtheirmedico‐legalexamination;

(b)Securingfreelegalassistanceorservice,whennecessary,forrapevictims;

(c)Assistingrapevictimsinthe investigationtohasten thearrestofoffenders

andthefilingofcasesincourt;

(d)Ensuringtheprivacyandsafetyofrapevictims;

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8/14/2019 Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998 (RA 8505)

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8/14/2019 Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998 (RA 8505)

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Sec.10.Repealingclause.—All laws,acts, presidentialdecrees, executiveorders,

administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to theprovisionsofthisActaredeemedamended,modifiedorrepealedaccordingly.

Sec.11.Effectivity.—ThisActshalltakeeffectfifteen(15)daysaftercompletionofitspublicationinatleasttwo(2)newspapersofgeneralcirculation.

Approved:February13,1998